Our planet faces a severe climate crisis, where many countries are experiencing more frequent and intense rains and flooding. These weather conditions cause significant damage to infrastructure, homes, and the natural environment. It may also worsen due to urbanisation.
Therefore, cities and localities must learn to mitigate its effects. Although bioswales and softscapes can help, sewer systems are still necessary. And that also means choosing the proper stormwater drain grate to ensure public safety.
This blog post will discuss factors to remember when buying stormwater drain grates. We’ll also define ditch checks and how to find and maintain the proper stormwater drain grate.
5 Factors to Consider When Buying Stormwater Drain Grates
Before buying stormwater drain grates for your property, this section will enumerate the crucial factors to consider.
1. Strength and Resilience
Manufacturers typically make storm drain grates from stainless steel, a durable material. You must always consider this factor, as you will expose the grates to heavy vehicles driving over them, and some areas even require extra heavy-duty grates for aeroplanes and shipping docks.
You must also ensure that the grates can withstand weathering without much maintenance. Stainless steel is ideal for this situation, as it naturally develops a protective layer that prevents corrosion from damaging the grates.
2. Hydraulic Efficiency
A storm grate must direct rainwater from the surface to the sewer system, and its efficiency depends on its size and shape. Different factors like the grate’s location and the holes’ designs can affect the water’s flow rate. You can know how much water a storm grate can remove by its open area, the water’s depth, and the grate’s perimeter length.
3. Debris Removal or Passthrough
Manufacturers design grates to filter out debris that can cause blockages in the sewer system, like large fallen leaves during autumn. However, they still allow small particles to pass through to prevent the grate from clogging.
4. Bicycle Safe Grates
Early stormwater grates were dangerous to cyclists, but newer designs with vertical bars are safer. However, many roads still have unsafe grates, and cyclists must report them to local governments. They must also not slope the gutters too steeply to avoid bikes sliding sideways.
5. Disability-Friendliness
If there are grates in pedestrian areas, they must meet the standards that the Australian Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) sets. It will help prevent risks of catching walkers, canes, or wheelchairs and avoid tripping hazards.
This law specifies several guidelines for the grates’ design, including the surface gradient and recommended grate apertures ranging from approximately 6 millimetres to 13mm, depending on the location. Adhering to these standards can help ensure pedestrian spaces are safe and accessible to all individuals, regardless of their physical abilities.
Ditch Checks: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Ditch checks slow down the water flow in ditches or culverts to prevent erosion and protect stormwater infrastructure. They have water-permeable walls; manufacturers can make them from mesh, hay, or stone. Also, grates are commonly used in elaborate drainage systems and must be large enough to prevent clogging but small enough to strain out debris.
How to Find and Maintain the Right Stormwater Drain Grate
Stainless steel sewer inlets are durable and last long with minimal maintenance, making them a popular choice for municipalities. However, as cities undergo development and usage patterns change, officials must ensure the grates are safe for cyclists and pedestrians. Residents can also help report unsafe conditions to their city officials, while site managers can remind their crews to stay alert for potential hazards.
Conclusion
Finding the proper stormwater drain grate is essential, especially since we face a global climate crisis and more people are pushing for disability rights. You can ensure public safety by assessing the locality and investing in stainless steel stormwater drain grates.
If you need high-quality stainless steel stormwater drain grates in Australia, visit Yeti Civil Products! We’re committed to helping you ensure public safety with our reliable and superior drainage solutions. Please browse our catalogue now!
